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Changing the game: Fundraising for schools’ extracurricular programs gets a software upgrade

8 Min Read

The school funding landscape has undergone dramatic changes in recent years, with technology emerging as a central force in that evolution. Educational institutions across the country are grappling with a perfect storm of financial challenges, including budget cuts that strain resources, staffing shortages that leave existing faculty short, and event costs soaring to unprecedented levels.

Despite these hurdles, community expectations for quality education and enriching extracurricular activities not only persist, but grow. The cost of operating high school programs increases every year due to rising inflation, placing a tremendous burden on athletic directors, and this is just one example of the massive pressures schools face today. As the situation continues to evolve, the deployment of cutting-edge platforms and strategic collaboration are key aspects in providing a lifeline to institutions navigating these treacherous waters.

The financial burden of COVID-19 far exceeds the extracurricular activities we love. These financial burdens highlight the urgent need for more efficient and effective programs and financing methods that seamlessly enable the growth of the HomeTown market.

As school districts across the country seek solutions to seemingly intractable problems, two innovators changing the education funding landscape are gaining attention. of Collaboration between Hometown and School Fund It was born as a comprehensive solution that allows schools to outsource and easily manage both event ticketing and fundraising. Led by Hometown CEO Nick Mirisis and Schoolfundr CEO Dennis Levene, the integration will enable schools to streamline their revenue generation and administrative processes with the shared goal of saving time and resources.

Founded in 2016, HomeTown modernized the way educational institutions and community organizations handle event ticketing and management. The rapidly growing platform offers an innovative solution to schools struggling with outdated and labor-intensive methods of ticketing and revenue management for events ranging from athletics to artistic performances to social gatherings. We provide solutions. HomeTown is a leading online digital ticketing and event management service. Serving over 5,000 schools in 21 states.

Founded in 2022, Schoolfundr emerged as an education funding platform that addresses the fundraising challenges school administrators face in raising funds from their communities. Schoolfundr offers a unique free model, allowing schools to keep 100% of the funds raised and only deduct the standard ~3% credit card processing fee. This innovative approach is in stark contrast to traditional fundraising platforms that charge payment processing fees of 20% up to 30%. Schoolfundr’s innovative free model represents a paradigm shift in school fundraising. Unlike competing platforms, Schoolfundr operates on a voluntary tipping system, allowing donors to contribute to the platform’s operating costs if they wish.

This approach has resonated strongly with donors who value transparency and the fact that their entire donation goes directly to the cause. According to Schoolfundr CEO Dennis Levene, donors are keen to “speak to their wallets” to support Schoolfundr’s mission, not just its products.

Despite widespread donor fatigue for school districts, Schoolfundr has been overwhelmingly supported by generous tips. Many donors who have years of experience with other platforms have even rejected typical fundraising efforts in the past due to high fees. But once they learn about Schoolfundr’s transparent approach, they are more willing to donate and often choose to leave a tip. This model not only allows schools to collect more revenue, but also fosters trust and goodwill among donors, ensuring that donations are used more effectively to support students and educational programs. I highly rate it.

Impressively, 60% of Schoolfunder’s donations come from outside the area code, demonstrating the school’s ability to thrive in a pro bono model while leveraging a broader network of support, Leben said. Ta.

Both HomeTown and Schoolfundr have transformed previously manual processes based on shared values ​​of trust and transparency. These two leading companies have recognized the clear value of disrupting the school programming environment and maximizing business benefits at the same time by digitizing two critical components of school programming. Ta.

hometown’s expansive reach has enabled thousands of schools to achieve digital transformation post-COVID-19, and Schoolfundr provides a robust platform to amplify that message and solidify its impact. I am. Just a few years ago, schools relied heavily on traditional fundraising models like baked goods sales and labor-intensive car washes that seemed unimaginable.

Now, building on HomeTown’s successful digital ticketing and event management transformation, schools can look forward to even more innovative changes in the way they raise funds and manage events. This partnership not only simplifies fundraising, but Schoolfundr’s zero platform fee commitment ensures schools keep a significant portion of the funds they raise.

The introduction of digital fundraising platforms like Schoolfundr has a huge impact on schools’ ability to fund their programs and initiatives. The school raises significant funds to support a variety of activities. As an example, Huff High School in North Carolina reported that its six teams raised more than $42,000 for uniforms, equipment, and travel expenses. case study Regarding the relationship between School Fund and Hough HS.

Even large districts like the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District use the School Funder platform to manage and execute campaigns for the district, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to help students reach their full potential. Masu.

The Schoolfundr and HomeTown partnership represents a powerful combination of fundraising and operational tools for schools. This partnership will allow schools to streamline both fundraising and event management, creating an overall more efficient and effective system. as CEO Nick Milisis Leading HomeTown through expansion, the company is poised to further transform the event management landscape for educational institutions.

As the industry evolves, it’s clear that the future of school fundraising and event management will be digital. Platforms like Schoolfundr and HomeTown are leading the way, offering services such as: Innovative solutions that align the interests of schools, donors, and technology providers. In doing so, we are not only changing the way schools raise funds and managing events, but also helping to ensure that all students have access to extracurricular resources, active events, and a community in which they continue to be a part. Masu.

VentureBeat newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

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